Football: Fans, Geno Delafose send seniors off to their final match

Megan Wyatt, Daily Advertiser, Dec. 21, 2013

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Ragin’ Cajuns fans slowed traffic on Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 to the speed of a crawling crawfish Friday afternoon, and their Ragin’ red spirit has infiltrated New Orleans in a way that cannot be ignored.

Kaplan native Barry Vincent captured attention wherever he went Friday by sporting a dancing Santa hat, Ragin’ Cajuns themed washboard and more spirit than just about anybody.

Although he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 1970s, he does not attribute that to his Ragin’ Cajun ways.

“How could you not be a fan?” he asks. “How could you not?”

During the third annual Fan Fest held at the Marriott Hotel in the French Quarter, Vincent spread Ragin’ spirit throughout the event ballroom as he danced to the music of Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie and rubbed on his washboard.

Vincent was only one of hundreds of Cajuns fans who packed the event, filling the ballroom to capacity.

The band took a break for a few minutes to allow for a special graduation ceremony for 12 Ragin’ Cajuns football players and staff during the event. The sea of red supporters cheered uncontrollably for the graduates.

“I want everybody to know that this is really one of the highlights of my career, being here not just for a third time but being here to watch and be a part of one of the most special graduation ceremonies in the history of graduation,” said Scott Farmer, UL athletic director.

Dana MacCord said she felt great, awesome and happy after watching her son, Nick Barnfield, graduate at Fan Fest.

“I’m proud of the man he’s become even more than the accomplishment of going through all the classwork,” MacCord said. “He’s become a man of character, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m very proud.”

Barnfield, a coach, assistant team chaplain and former linebacker for the Ragin’ Cajuns, earned a degree in general studies Friday. Although he said earning a degree while playing sports in college is a huge accomplishment, it meant even more to share the moment with the Ragin’ Cajun Nation.

“This was my dream all along,” Barnfield said. “I wanted to graduate here in New Orleans and not have to do the normal ceremony because this is family.”

For Brodie Savoie, UL football equipment manager, earning his degree Friday meant more than just receiving a diploma.

“It took me a really long time to graduate, eight years,” Savoie said. “It’s amazing to be able to say that I stuck it out this long and actually made it.”

Garrett Savoie, his brother, became emotional during the ceremony, saying that he knew how hard his brother had worked for that moment.

When Brodie Savoie first began at UL, he never expected the Ragin’ Cajuns to attend a bowl game. To earn his degree during an event for the team’s third-straight bowl game is a great way to graduate, he said.

“I really appreciated how the fans are getting behind us and getting excited for guys they hardly know,” Brodie Savoie said.

On Friday night, Ragin’ Cajuns fans continued to paint the Quarter red at a free concert at Champions Square featuring The Charlie Daniels Band and Travis Tritt.

Fan events pick back up today with a 9 a.m. Ragin’ Cajun Block Party on Poydras Street, a 2 p.m. tailgating party at Rouses, a 4 p.m. pre-game RCAF/UL Alumni Association tailgate party at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and a 5:30 p.m. New Orleans Bowl Tailgate Party at Champions Square.

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will take on the Tulane Green Wave at 8 p.m. in the Superdome.